For every starting job won, another is lost. Roy Miller’s return to the Red Bulls’ Starting XI has cost Heath Pearce his spot in it, something the former all-star defender clearly isn’t happy about. And coach Mike Petke is OK with that.

Pearce has been a mainstay in the Red Bulls’ lineup since arriving last year in a deal for Juan Agudelo, and the former MLS First XI standout has rarely had his starting position come into question; but that’s exactly what has happened now. With Miller starting the last four games at left back, Pearce has gotten just one start (at centerback) with one sub appearance and a pair of DNPs.

Why? Ask Pearce that question, and there is a pause long enough to read half of Les Miserables, before he finally musters “(Petke) said that I played well against New England, and that they’re making a tactical change against Toronto because they have big guys.’’

So it was purely tactical?

“You’ll have to ask him that. I’m the wrong person to ask,’’ Pearce replied. Asked if he was given any indication whether he’d start – or even play – Saturday at Columbus, Pearce made eye contact and said “None.’’

Pearce had been a fixture up through the 3-1 loss in Chicago, playing the full 90 in each game. But he went as an unused sub in the April 13 game at DC United, with Petke starting Miller at left back and Markus Holgerson at centerback and the Red Bulls coming away with their first clean sheet of the year.

Four days later against Sporting KC, Pearce got a 57-minute cameo off the bench only because Jamison Olave got hurt. And Pearce did start and play well in the April 20 rout of New England, only to find himself a healthy DNP again the next week in Toronto. And it was clearly not a position he enjoyed being in.

“I was a player, and I was in these situations. I’m under no illusion that Heath is happy or that Heath agrees or thinks I’m being honest,’’ said Petke, who said the decision to bench him last weekend was purely to get the bigger combination of Holgerson and Olave on the field to deal with Toronto physicality and direct play.

“For Toronto, it tactical for sure…We played against a team and I thought he played very well against New England. We’re playing a game against Toronto on the road who has five or six 6-footers who play extremely direct longballs and are very much a threat on flick-ons and on corner kicks. That was a complete tactical change.’’

When asked if he was simply going to have to take the situation week-by-week, Pearce quipped “day-by-day.’’